Publications

As a pillar of regional connectivity, the telecommunication infrastructure is now seen as the enabler to facilitate the movements of goods, people, money, services and knowledge within and across national borders. Thus, reliability, diversity, speed and resilience of regional (and national) ICT infrastructure, in particular broadband networks, is a critical development priority of the region. In recognition of the prominence of this infrastructure, new emphasis has been placed on the concept of e-resilience.

This Guide provides meeting organizers with step-by-step, comprehensive advice for the planning of disability-inclusive meetings. The Guide builds on the Incheon Strategy goals to promote the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes and to enhance the accessibility to both the physical environment and knowledge as well as information and communication services. Crucially, the Guide reaffirms that meetings across all themes are enriched by the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities.

Reducing Trade Costs in Asia-Pacific Developing Countries (Studies in Trade and Investment No. 84). International trade has been a major engine for economic growth and development in Asia and the Pacific. However, overall trade costs remain excessively high in many developing countries of the region. Part I of this publication provides an overview of trade costs in Asia and the Pacific, based on the most recent update of the ESCAP-World Bank Trade Cost Database. Policies and factors affecting international trade costs are identified.

How much of international trade costs can be mitigated through implementation of trade facilitation measures and policies? What measures and policies affect trade costs the most? This paper updates findings from Duval and Utoktham (2011), based on ESCAP-World Bank Trade Costs Database. Among the top trade facilitating regions are East and North-East Asia, followed by South-East Asia. The dominance of those regions are fully consistent with the trade-led growth strategies of these economies and their emphasis on reducing international trade costs.

This working paper explores the potential brought about by information and communications technology (ICT) in improving the sustainability of road transport through the implementation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). The paper has been prepared by the ICT and Development Section of ESCAP, and is addressed to ICT policymakers of developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Resilient Business for Resilient Nations and Communities shows how the private sector can act as a key partner for reducing disaster risk that can affect a country’s overall resilience to disasters. This report is among the first to document the evolving thoughts and practices of the private sector in disaster risk management. It offers Asia-Pacific perspectives on the respective roles and responsibilities of the private and public sectors in promoting resilience, highlighting good practices, case studies and lessons learned.

Guidelines for setting and monitoring the goals and targets of the Regional Action Framework on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific

The Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report (APTIR) is a recurrent publication prepared by the Trade and Investment Division of the United Nations, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. It provides information on and independent analyses of trends and developments in: (a) intra- and inter-regional trade in goods and services; (b) foreign direct investment; (c) trade facilitation measures; (d) trade policy measures; and (e) preferential trade policies and agreements.